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Here I am, confused and worried about all of this...tried to avoid treatment for over 10 years and now is my turn to start (300CD4, 12,000VL)..I just decided to start on a HIV medication study (12/09/08) since my doctor recommended it.... I am a bodybuilder/weightlifting guy since 1985 and I feel like my world is gonna crash down as soon as I start on meds...The treatment I will be starting on is with a Truvada combination and my major concern, of course as everyone being HIV pos..... side effects......Particularly since I got disgnosed HIV pos I have been with no visual symptoms, I am worried and scared I will get lipodystrophy and facial wasting... I have a partner for 10 years now and he's been HIV negative and of course I am worried all those physical changes will leave me alone and separated from our society like many of us has experienced towards this reality....Can anyone give recommendations or let me know if Truvada is related to these side effects and which side effects should be ready to deal with while taking this medication?...I am a Science major and, to tell you the truth -toxicity freaks me out ......I'll appreciate anyone's comments....

As for turning into Mr Burns, or even Homer Simpson, this is so very unlikely to happen with modern meds, esp Truvada

It is like doing your first parachute jump, starting meds, no way to avoid the being scared feeling, but do please think on this (1) meds might turn out to be boring, as is often the case these days (2) you might feel better (3) you can save the feeling separated from the living for when you;re dead, which meds will avoid (4) a suppressed viral load reduces the risk of transmission to your partner, which may reduce any anxiety around sex, and make a long, great relationsip even better and closer.

I acknowledge that there are concerns long term about meds, they are concerns for me, but you's doing everything right, meds, weights and some CV for your heart will prob see you get old,. Meds will counter the possibly worse effect on the body of long-time uncontrolled HIV and immune activation.

Toxicity is a strong word. The risk-benefit analysis is v favourable (for meds) these days. Treatment will be different/better/less toxic in 5 years.

I'm just started Isentress and Truvada about a month ago. I haven't had any side effects thus far. I believe I've felt more side effects from Excedrin than this combo. I can't wait until I get my next lab results are, to make sure it is working since I haven't felt any sort of change with my body.

I only got infected with HIV barely a year ago, and my cd4s are in the low 700s with a VL of about 14000. I started treatment way early, because I was more afraid of the long term effects of HIV than the drugs.